NEW YORK, NY — The Record of Decision (ROD) for the Crystal Cleaners Site (NYSDEC Site #: 360053) (Pelham, Westchester County) has been issued by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). The ROD describes the remedy selected to address contamination associated with the site.
The site has been used as a dry cleaning facility for several decades. Contaminants of concern include volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These chlorinated solvents typically are used in dry cleaning operations.
Major elements of the selected remedy include:
1. Excavation and off-site disposal of about 400 cubic yards of contaminated soil. Follow-up sampling will ensure that the removal of contaminated soil is complete.
2. Enhanced in-situ (in-place) bioremediation to treat the contamination in groundwater. This will be accomplished by treating overlying soils with emulsified activated carbon to encourage and hasten the bacterial decay of contaminants.
3. Placement of an environmental easement to restrict the use of the site to commercial or industrial use, and to require compliance with the Site Management Plan.
4. Implementation of a Site Management Plan, which provides for the management of any remaining contamination and monitoring for the continued effectiveness of the remedy.
Soil vapor and indoor air samples had been collected previously from a number of off-site buildings. As a result, systems to prevent exposure to contaminated vapor were installed in two buildings as an interim measure.
The estimated cost to implement the remedy is about $1.6 million in today’s dollars.
The ROD provides additional details about the selected remedy. An electronic copy of the ROD and other information about the site are available on the site’s web page at: http://www.dec.ny.gov/chemical/37552.html (scroll down under Westchester County).
Copies of the ROD also are available for review at the following location:
Pelham Village Hall
195 Sparks Avenue
Pelham, NY 10803
914-738-2015
Feel free to contact the NYSDEC Project Manager: John Miller, phone: 518-402-9589 FREE; email: john.miller@dec.ny.gov
